How to Start a Phenology Wheel Project
A phenology wheel is an easy, creative, way to slow down and pay attention to the living world around you. It’s part craft project, part science notebook, part mindfulness practice.
And what I love about this project is that it is totally analog in the best ways: you get to go outside, look around, draw or doodle, and slowly watch something fill up over time. You don’t need to be an expert naturalist. You don’t need fancy supplies. You don't need to be "an artist." Anyone can do this project. You’re just collecting moments and that is surprisingly satisfying!
What Is Phenology and Why Is This A Meaningful Project?
Phenology is the study of seasonal rhythms in plants, animals, weather, and light. It turns observations into a visual record—one circle that slowly fills as the year unfolds.
I love this project because it is analog at its core! And activities like this are what I want out of The Analog Life Project experiment: I want to notice my life instead of scrolling it away.
To me, most of the time modern life just feels completely rushed. A blur. But this project asks for patience. It asks for focus. And circles mirror the way the world actually works, they remind us that life itself is circular: seasons return, energy rises and falls, growth happens in stages. I notice pattens. I notice cycles. And maybe most of all it helps me remember that life is happening right here, right now.
And because part of this project is about having tangible memories we can hold in our hands at the end of the year, over time, your wheel becomes a physical artifact of time passing archive of noticing. It shows you not just what happened, but when and how it felt to be there. Something you can add to your binder if you're keeping one for this project.
Supplies
- A sheet of paper or card stock
Colored pencils, markers, paints, crayons, etc
A ruler, compass, protractor
I used this full circle protractor to create my wheel because it made diving the sections easy peasy.
Don't want to create one yourself? You can download a wheel template below.
Draw Your Wheel
- Draw a large circle on your page.'
- Divide the circle into 12 month sections. I do this lightly with pencil so I can go over these sections with watercolor and micron pen later.
Color in your sections each month, take notes if desired.
Decide What You'll Observe
You don’t have to track everything. Choose a few threads:
Plant life (buds, leaves, flowers, fruit)
Animals or insects
Weather and light
Sounds or smells
Your own internal state
Ways To Deepen The Practice
- Pair your wheel with short journal entries
Add poetry or quotes in the margins
Create one wheel for nature, one for your inner life
Do the project alongside a friend or community
This Activity Is Part Of The Analog Life Project
The Analog Life Project is a free, year-long invitation to step away from constant screens, unplug from the noise, and explore a more intentional, analog way of living. Each month I'm offering free workbooks like this one as I explore going "analog-ish" this year. :)
The Analog Life Project is a year-long project with monthly content and is completely free.
That being said, I would love it if you would consider supporting this project and my work by visiting my shop.
Are you outside the US? My international shipping is limited but Buy Olympia sells all of our products (washi tape is on the way!) and ships worldwide!
Not ready to shop? You can Buy Me A Coffee.
